independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecontentphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended
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The adjuration — preach the word 4:1–2
1
Διαμαρτύρομαι ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ,independent — performative present — the charge enacted in the saying; the witnesses named as in a courtroom
τοῦ μέλλοντος κρίνειν ζῶντας καὶ νεκρούς,participial — attributive — the second witness is the imminent Judge; ζῶντας καὶ νεκρούς the merism for all humanity (Acts 10:42)
καὶ τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν βασιλείαν αὐτοῦ·phrase modifier — accusatives of adjuration — 'I charge you by…' — not further objects of ἐνώπιον; ἐπιφάνεια the advent-word that returns in v. 8
v. 2 — the charge proper: five aorist imperatives in a volley
2
κήρυξον τὸν λόγον,content — the content of the adjuration — the herald's task named first; ὁ λόγος the Scripture-word just commended (3:15–16)
ἐπίστηθι εὐκαίρως ἀκαίρως,content — the herald's posture — the asyndetic pair a merism: whether the moment favors or not
ἔλεγξον, ἐπιτίμησον, παρακάλεσον,content — the range of pastoral speech — conviction, censure, encouragement
ἐν πάσῃ μακροθυμίᾳ καὶ διδαχῇ.phrase modifier — manner over the whole triad — long-temperedness, and the doctrine that gives correction its substance
The coming season — and Timothy's sobriety 4:3–5
3
ἔσται γὰρ καιρὸςindependent — γάρ — the ground of the charge's urgency (v. 2): a season answering εὐκαίρως ἀκαίρως
ὅτε τῆς ὑγιαινούσης διδασκαλίας οὐκ ἀνέξονται,relative — ὅτε on καιρός — ἀνέχομαι with the genitive: they will not bear up under healthy doctrine
ἀλλὰ κατὰ τὰς ἰδίας ἐπιθυμίας ἑαυτοῖς ἐπισωρεύσουσιν διδασκάλουςrelative — the ὅτε-clause continued — ἐπισωρεύω a vivid hapax; desire become the canon of doctrine
κνηθόμενοι τὴν ἀκοήν,participial — causal — the itch explains the heaping; accusative of the part affected
4
καὶ ἀπὸ μὲν τῆς ἀληθείας τὴν ἀκοὴν ἀποστρέψουσιν,relative — the ὅτε-futures continue — μέν opens the balanced swerve; the same ἀκοή now actively averted
ἐπὶ δὲ τοὺς μύθους ἐκτραπήσονται.relative — δέ answers μέν — off the road onto μῦθοι, the Pastorals' word for empty tales (1 Tim 1:4; Tit 1:14)
v. 5 — σὺ δέ: the sober counter-column
5
σὺ δὲ νῆφε ἐν πᾶσιν,independent — the emphatic σὺ δέ sets Timothy against the drift; νῆφε the one present imperative — a settled habit
κακοπάθησον,independent — the letter's refrain (1:8; 2:3, 9) pressed once more
ἔργον ποίησον εὐαγγελιστοῦ,independent — εὐαγγελιστής — one of only three NT uses (Acts 21:8; Eph 4:11)
τὴν διακονίαν σου πληροφόρησον.independent — πληροφορέω — bring to full measure; the verb returns of Paul's own κήρυγμα (v. 17)
The libation, the race, the crown 4:6–8
6
Ἐγὼ γὰρ ἤδη σπένδομαι,independent — γάρ — the hand-off: emphatic Ἐγώ answers the σύ of v. 5; σπένδομαι, the drink-offering already underway (Phil 2:17)
καὶ ὁ καιρὸς τῆς ἀναλύσεώς μου ἐφέστηκεν.independent — ἀνάλυσις — weighing anchor, striking camp; ἐφέστηκεν echoes ἐπίστηθι (v. 2): the word for Timothy's post now names Paul's departure
v. 7 — the three perfects: the settled verdict
7
τὸν καλὸν ἀγῶνα ἠγώνισμαι,independent — cognate object fronted — the noble contest contended to its end (1 Tim 6:12)
τὸν δρόμον τετέλεκα,independent — the appointed course run to the goal (Acts 20:24)
τὴν πίστιν τετήρηκα·independent — the deposit guarded intact (1:14) — also the idiom of an oath honored
v. 8 — the crown laid up, and for all who have loved his appearing
8
λοιπὸν ἀπόκειταί μοι ὁ τῆς δικαιοσύνης στέφανος,independent — λοιπόν turns from retrospect to prospect; the genitive read as the crown that consists in righteousness — the victor's wreath after the δρόμος
ὃν ἀποδώσει μοι ὁ κύριος ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ, ὁ δίκαιος κριτής,relative — ἀποδίδωμι — rendered as due, not gratuity; the Judge of v. 1 now the awarder
οὐ μόνον δὲ ἐμοὶ ἀλλὰ καὶ πᾶσιν τοῖς ἠγαπηκόσι τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν αὐτοῦ.phrase modifier — the dative widened — the perfect ἠγαπηκόσι a settled love for the ἐπιφάνεια of v. 1; Demas will be its foil (v. 10)
Come quickly — the scattered circle, the cloak 4:9–13
9
Σπούδασον ἐλθεῖν πρός με ταχέως·independent — the summons that frames the close — renewed with a deadline in v. 21
vv. 10–12 — the scattered circle: one defection, the rest dispatched
10
Δημᾶς γάρ με ἐγκατέλιπενcause — γάρ grounds the summons in loneliness — ἐγκαταλείπω, the forsaking-verb that returns of all in v. 16
ἀγαπήσας τὸν νῦν αἰῶνα,participial — causal — the pointed foil to τοῖς ἠγαπηκόσι τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν (v. 8): Demas loved the wrong appearing
καὶ ἐπορεύθη εἰς Θεσσαλονίκην,cause — coordinate with ἐγκατέλιπεν — the desertion made visible in a departure
Κρήσκης εἰς Γαλατίαν,phrase modifier — the verb elided — read as a dispatch on mission, not a second defection
Τίτος εἰς Δαλματίαν·phrase modifier — likewise — the trusted delegate posted; the circle thins either way
11
Λουκᾶς ἐστιν μόνος μετ' ἐμοῦ.independent — the bleak census — of all the circle, one remains (Col 4:14)
Μᾶρκον ἀναλαβὼν ἄγε μετὰ σεαυτοῦ,independent — attendant-circumstance ἀναλαβών kept inline — the once-rejected companion (Acts 15:37–39) now sent for
ἔστιν γάρ μοι εὔχρηστος εἰς διακονίαν.cause — εὔχρηστος — the restored vessel's word (2:21): Mark's rehabilitation complete
12
Τυχικὸν δὲ ἀπέστειλα εἰς Ἔφεσον.independent — possibly an epistolary aorist — the letter's own bearer, perhaps relieving Timothy to travel
v. 13 — the cloak, the books, above all the parchments
13
τὸν φαιλόνηνindependent — the object fronted and suspended until φέρε — a prisoner's need with winter coming (v. 21)
ὃν ἀπέλιπον ἐν Τρῳάδι παρὰ Κάρπῳrelative — the deposit located — παρά, in the keeping of an otherwise unknown host
ἐρχόμενος φέρε,independent — the suspended φαιλόνην resumed as object; temporal ἐρχόμενος kept inline — collect it en route
καὶ τὰ βιβλία,phrase modifier — the papyrus rolls — the apostle's working library
μάλιστα τὰς μεμβράνας.phrase modifier — μεμβράνα, a Latin loanword and NT hapax — the prized vellum, perhaps Scriptures or his own notes
Alexander, the first defense, the lion 4:14–18
14
Ἀλέξανδρος ὁ χαλκεὺς πολλά μοι κακὰ ἐνεδείξατο·independent — the named adversary — perhaps the Alexander of 1 Tim 1:20; ἐνδείκνυμι, malice exhibited in deeds
ἀποδώσει αὐτῷ ὁ κύριος κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ·independent — not a curse but a committal (Rom 12:19; Ps 62:12) — the same ἀποδώσει that awards the crown (v. 8)
15
ὃν καὶ σὺ φυλάσσου,relative — ὅν resumes Alexander (v. 14, tracked by αὐτῷ) — the relative sliding into direct command; σύ emphatic
λίαν γὰρ ἀντέστη τοῖς ἡμετέροις λόγοις.cause — the ground — ἀνθίστημι as of Jannes and Jambres (3:8); 'our words,' the shared apostolic preaching
vv. 16–18 — the first defense: deserted by all, stood by the Lord
16
Ἐν τῇ πρώτῃ μου ἀπολογίᾳ οὐδείς μοι παρεγένετο,independent — the prima actio of the Roman trial — παραγίνομαι the legal supporter's verb: no advocate appeared
ἀλλὰ πάντες με ἐγκατέλιπον·independent — ἐγκαταλείπω again (v. 10) — Demas's verb become everyone's; the echo of Ps 22:1 close behind
μὴ αὐτοῖς λογισθείη·independent — optative of wish — the prayer of Lk 23:34 and Acts 7:60, pardon in the accounting-word λογίζομαι
17
ὁ δὲ κύριός μοι παρέστηindependent — the great δέ — παρέστη supplies exactly what παρεγένετο lacked: the Advocate no human was
καὶ ἐνεδυνάμωσέν με,independent — ἐνδυναμόω — the letter's empowering verb (2:1)
ἵνα δι' ἐμοῦ τὸ κήρυγμα πληροφορηθῇpurpose — the dock a pulpit — πληροφορέω, the very verb given to Timothy in v. 5
καὶ ἀκούσωσιν πάντα τὰ ἔθνη,purpose — the apostle to the Gentiles heard at the empire's center — the commission completed in the courtroom
καὶ ἐρρύσθην ἐκ στόματος λέοντος.independent — divine passive — the lion read as a figure for mortal, imperial peril (Ps 22:21; Dan 6), not the arena
18
ῥύσεταί με ὁ κύριος ἀπὸ παντὸς ἔργου πονηροῦindependent — ἐρρύσθην becomes ῥύσεται — past rescue grounds final rescue; deliverance now through death, not from it
καὶ σώσει εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν αὐτοῦ τὴν ἐπουράνιον·independent — the βασιλεία of the adjuration (v. 1) now Paul's destination — σῴζω εἰς, saved into
ᾧ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων, ἀμήν.relative — doxology — ᾧ on ὁ κύριος (v. 18a, here via αὐτοῦ): glory ascribed to Christ, the verb εἴη implied
Greetings and the double benediction 4:19–22
19
Ἄσπασαι Πρίσκαν καὶ Ἀκύλαν καὶ τὸν Ὀνησιφόρου οἶκον.independent — the old co-workers (Acts 18) and the household of 1:16–18 — greeted as a house, perhaps because Onesiphorus had died
20
Ἔραστος ἔμεινεν ἐν Κορίνθῳ,independent — travel news (Acts 19:22; cf. Rom 16:23) — stayed by circumstance or assignment, not defection
Τρόφιμον δὲ ἀπέλιπον ἐν Μιλήτῳ ἀσθενοῦντα.independent — ἀπολείπω as of the cloak (v. 13) — the apostle who could not command healing; circumstantial ἀσθενοῦντα kept inline
21
Σπούδασον πρὸ χειμῶνος ἐλθεῖν.independent — v. 9 renewed with a deadline — winter closes the sea-lanes, and the time is short (v. 6)
Ἀσπάζεταί σε Εὔβουλος καὶ Πούδης καὶ Λίνος καὶ Κλαυδία καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ πάντες.independent — the Roman circle — the verb singular with a compound subject; Paul not, after all, wholly alone
22
Ὁ κύριος μετὰ τοῦ πνεύματός σου.independent — verbless blessing, εἴη implied — σου singular: the last personal word to Timothy
ἡ χάρις μεθ' ὑμῶν.independent — ὑμῶν plural — the close widens from the one to the church; the last line of Paul's last letter
Analysis. The chapter is Paul's last charge and his last will, and the layout shows the hand-off. It opens with a single performative at flush left — Διαμαρτύρομαι, the witnesses heaped behind it — the participle of the coming Judge hanging on Ἰησοῦ, and καὶ τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν βασιλείαν αὐτοῦ read as accusatives of adjuration ('I charge you by his appearing and his kingdom'), not as further objects of ἐνώπιον; under the adjuration the five aorist imperatives of v. 2 hang as its spoken content — κήρυξον the task, ἐπίστηθι the posture, the ἔλεγξον–ἐπιτίμησον–παρακάλεσον triad the range — capped by the manner-phrase ἐν πάσῃ μακροθυμίᾳ καὶ διδαχῇ on the last of them. The prediction of vv. 3–4 sets ἔσται γὰρ καιρός at the head with four futures chained in the ὅτε-clause beneath καιρός (the itching-ears participle on ἐπισωρεύσουσιν), and σὺ δὲ νῆφε answers with four flush-left imperatives. Then the valediction: Ἐγὼ γὰρ ἤδη σπένδομαι — the emphatic Ἐγώ balancing the σύ of v. 5, ἐφέστηκεν echoing ἐπίστηθι — the three perfects of v. 7 stand as a level column, and the crown-sentence of v. 8 steps down once to the relative (ὃν ἀποδώσει... ὁ δίκαιος κριτής) and once more to the dashed dative widening οὐ μόνον δὲ ἐμοὶ..., an expansion of μοι. In the personal close the γάρ of v. 10 hangs the whole desertion-report on Σπούδασον — Demas's ἀγαπήσας τὸν νῦν αἰῶνα pointedly answering the ἠγαπηκόσι τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν of v. 8 — with Crescens and Titus as verb-sharing fragments under ἐπορεύθη, read as dispatches, not defections; v. 13 suspends τὸν φαιλόνην as a dashed fronted object, its relative beneath it, until ἐρχόμενος φέρε resumes at the left. Verses 14–18 let the two ἀποδώσει stand in one shape — the Lord repays Alexander with the same verb by which he awards the crown — and the first defense sets the desertion lines against ὁ δὲ κύριός μοι παρέστη, the ἵνα pair (the proclamation completed, all the nations hearing) making the dock itself a pulpit; ἐκ στόματος λέοντος is taken as a figure for mortal, imperial peril (Ps 22:21; Dan 6), not the arena, and the doxology's ᾧ is read of the κύριος of v. 18 — glory ascribed to Christ. The close narrows and widens in a breath: Σπούδασον returns with a deadline (πρὸ χειμῶνος), and the double benediction moves from τοῦ πνεύματός σου, singular, to μεθ' ὑμῶν, plural — Paul's last letter ending with the whole church listening over Timothy's shoulder.